The 27‑year‑old founder of the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club in Stockton pleaded guilty Monday to federal firearms charges after prosecutors said he tried to sell illegal weapons to an undercover officer, fled court, and was arrested at San Francisco International Airport while preparing to board a flight to India.
Jashanpreet Singh, a Lodi resident who authorities describe as the leader of a regional outlaw motorcycle gang with ties to the Hells Angels, now faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 11, 2026.
Here’s what to know about the case.
What prosecutors say led to Punjabi Devils arrest
According to court documents released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Singh attempted to sell an arsenal of illegal weapons to an undercover agent on June 6, 2025. The items included:
Later that day, federal agents searched Singh’s home in Lodi and found:
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad destroyed the explosives at the scene.
Singh was initially charged in San Joaquin County Superior Court, but the case was later moved to federal court as part of Operation Take Back America, a Trump‑era criminal‑deportation and anti‑gang initiative. Prosecutors say the program targets cartels, transnational criminal groups, and violent offenders.
After his first court appearance, Singh failed to appear for a hearing on July 21, 2025, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant.
Two days later, U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the FBI that Singh had purchased a ticket to India. Agents arrested him at SFO on July 26 as he attempted to board his flight.
He has remained in federal custody ever since.
What Is Punjab — and who are the Punjabi Devils?
Punjab is a cultural and geographic region in South Asia, divided between northern India and eastern Pakistan. Known for Sikh heritage, agriculture, music, and diaspora communities worldwide, it is home to one of the world’s largest Sikh populations. Many Punjabi American communities—including those in the Central Valley—retain strong cultural ties to the region.
Federal officials say Singh founded the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club in Stockton, a group whose members often wear patches depicting the outline of Punjab with a turbaned skull. Authorities describe the club as an outlaw motorcycle gang aligned with the Hells Angels, an international organization born in California and long monitored by law enforcement for its criminal history.
What comes next in the Punjabi Devils case
Singh originally faced a three‑count federal indictment filed on July 31, 2025, including:
With Monday’s guilty plea, he now faces:
Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2026, in federal court in Sacramento.
Hannah Workman of the Stockton Record contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Punjabi Devils founder pleads guilty in federal gun case in Stockton
Reporting by James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
